South Boston Business Spotlight: Sunshine Calligraphy

It’s all in the details.

South Boston resident Annie Rusteika’s mission is to spread joy in the shape of beautifully skilled lettering. Rusteika recently launched her new small business based in Southie – Sunshine Calligraphy.  From seasonal monogrammed pumpkins and ornaments to signage for weddings and personalized gifts, Sunshine Calligraphy can create something special guaranteed to add a little “sunshine” to your life! We recently sat down with Rusteika for a little Q+A.

What inspired you to start this business?

Truthfully, my loved ones. For years I have been giving personalized gifts to family and friends for all sorts of occasions. Every time I gave a personalized gift – whether it was a wine label or a birthday card – they would tell me “You outta start a company doing this”. So here I am starting what has always been a dream. Dream big, they said. As for the name, Sunshine Calligraphy, sunshine has always been a word that brings me joy and smiles. Since I was a little girl my mother would sing ‘You are my sunshine” to me every night before bed. Fast forward a few years and she is still singing it but this time to my two nephews. What better name for a company than a single simple word that can describe so much happiness. A ray of Sunshine in every detail. 

How long have you been doing calligraphy?

My first handwritten gift that made me want to do this for a living was in 2006! 14 years ago, I gifted my mother a personalized wine bottle. I replaced the label with a handwritten one that said “Two Peas in a Pod”. 14 years and dozens of lessons later I am still gifting personalized wine labels. Though times change, there is always a need for a personal touch to any gift. Sunshine Calligraphy specializes in those details – from labels to cards to wedding signs and everything in between!

Are you self taught?

I am self taught. Good handwriting runs in the family (my mom’s is impeccable). For years I have played around with different ways of lettering. I started by tracing a print out of a fun quote or nice saying. Then I advanced to copying the font, solely by eye. Now I have cemented a signature font, one that is fun and playful but classic at the same time. I am able to do all sorts of fonts for whatever the occasion is or event the sign is for. Playing around with lettering is the joy of this hobby. From different letters to different pens, no one piece is the same. 

Do you have a website?

I do! My website is sunshinecalligraphy.com. I would also love everyone to follow me on instagram @sunshine.calligraphy1 or on facebook Sunshine Calligraphy. 

Here are some fun upcoming items to consider

– Letters from Santa: personalized letters to your little ones from the big man himself, shipped directly to your house. This is sure to bring a smile to your kids face!

– Cookies for Santa trays: handwritten cookie for Santa trays to Christmas Eve – Annie didn’t forget Rudolph, there’s a spot for his carrot too. 

– Ornaments – Different shapes and sizes of the perfect 2020 Christmas ornament – Annie even has dog bone ones for your best buddy.